In our community of Woodside, particularly around California Highway 84 (Woodside Road), cars are speeding at over 40 miles per hour in areas where the speed limit is 25 miles per hour, creating a frightening and dangerous scenario. As someone who has witnessed the clear and present danger firsthand, I am deeply concerned about the safety of our children, who frequently bike around town. While individual deputies patrolling our area often do their best, leadership appears to fail to prioritize speed enforcement and community safety.

Until recently, there were active efforts to curb speeding. However, we see a noticeable lack of enforcement, particularly during the evening hours when speeding incidents are most common. Just days ago, on California Highway 84, a speeding car lost control in rainy conditions, crashing into and destroying the historic sign of The Little Store restaurant before colliding with a tree. When the responding sheriff arrived, he appeared disengaged—looking at his phone while other cars continued speeding. This lack of concern and enforcement underscores the urgent need for better leadership and more substantial policies.

On Kings Mountain Road, the situation is equally alarming. Despite a speed limit of 30 miles per hour, cars routinely exceed it with little to no consequence. Considering its residential nature, even 30 miles per hour may be too high to ensure safety.

According to the CDC, traffic accidents are the leading cause of death for children aged 5-14 in the U.S. Fast-moving cars and vulnerable pedestrians—especially children—are a lethal combination. The San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office must demonstrate more decisive leadership by reinstating rigorous speed enforcement and reducing speed limits where necessary. Lowering Kings Mountain Road’s speed limit to 25 miles per hour would be a critical step in the right direction.

Let’s come together as a community to demand safer streets for our children and neighbors. Please sign and share this petition for effective speed control and leadership accountability. Together, we can make our roads safer for everyone.